Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ouanaminthe (Agenzia Fides) - A crowd of Catholic faithful and numerous citizens of Ouanaminthe, a small town north-east of Haiti, on the border with the Dominican Republic, took part in a march of solidarity with Haitians who, according to a recent law on Immigration, the fact of being undocumented means they will soon be expelled from the Dominican Republic (see Fides 23/06/2015).
According to information sent to Agenzia Fides, the march, which was held on Tuesday, June 30, saw the participation of a large group of people. They carried the national flag, played music and sang religious hymns that called for peace. There were also several organizations, including the Human Rights and the Jesuit Service for Migrants. The Bishop of the Diocese of Fort-Liberté (Haiti), His Exc. Mgr. Alphonse Quesnel, S.M.M., the priests of the church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Ouanaminthe and the faithful of the parish of Christ the King were at the procession.
The crowd crossed the state road n. 6, passing in front of the Dominican Consulate in Ouanaminthe, where the Bishop read a message in Spanish before reaching the border between the two countries. Mgr. Quesnel asked Catholics in the provinces of Dajabón and Montecristi to show solidarity with Haitian migrants. "This march also has the aim to protest against the mistreatment of Haitian migrants and Dominicans of Haitian origin", said the Bishop, asking the Dominican authorities to treat Haitians with dignity.
Mgr. Quesnel asked to extend the period of July 6, 2015, granted by the Dominican authorities to those who want to voluntarily leave Santo Domingo, and the guarantee that there will be no repatriation in this period. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 03/07/2015)
